On Monday, Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones backpedaled on a comment suggesting they’re considering trading linebacker Micah Parsons in 2025.
“We see Micah as a Cowboy for long term,” Jones told KRLD-FM in Dallas. “We’ve said all along our goal was to sign all three [quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and Parsons], and that’s still our goal.”
Although Jones insists Dallas wants to keep Parsons, his future with the franchise still seems uncertain.
“Obviously, we’re totally all in on Dak and CeeDee,” Jones told NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport in a piece published Sunday. “But after that, then you still shape things, including Micah. You don’t do well letting guys like Micah, usually, leave house.”
After Sunday’s 30-14 victory over the Carolina Panthers, Parsons told the media he would prefer to stay in Dallas but understands there’s “a business side” to the NFL.
Before the season started, the Cowboys signed Prescott to a four-year, $240M deal and gave Lamb a four-year, $136M contract, leaving less room for a Parsons extension.
Spotrac estimates Parsons’ market value is a three-year deal worth $29M annually. The site also projects that the Cowboys will have $19.89M in cap space in 2025.
The Cowboys activated Parsons’ fifth-year option on his rookie contract this past offseason. However, if they wait to extend it, the price may increase.
While Dallas is in a challenging financial position, it should still try to find a way to keep the 25-year-old pass-rusher.
Since Dallas drafted Parsons No. 12 overall in 2021, he has won Defensive Rookie of the Year and earned two first-team All-Pro nods.
More importantly, the Cowboys (6-8) struggle to win games without him. When Parsons missed Weeks 5-9 with a high ankle sprain, Dallas went 1-3, allowing 30.3 points per game.
If Prescott and Lamb restructure their contracts, Dallas could allot cap space for Parsons. According to Over the Cap, a Prescott restructure would yield $37.19M in cap savings. Lamb revising his deal would result in $20.54M in cap savings.
The Cowboys must convince Lamb and Prescott to do this. They certainly don’t want to lose one of the league’s top edge-rushers in Parsons.
